Chrysocolla

Chrysocolla,
the gemstone which provides unique color, blue-green, in the mineral
world. It is, in fact, an appropriate mineraloid than a true mineral.
Mostly, it is amorphous, not having a coherent crystalline structure.

Chrysocolla in its pure form is soft and fragile and therefore not
suitable for use in jewelry. It is "agatized" in chalcedony
quartz and this quartz provides the stone its durability. Druzy
Chrysocolla rock is an example of agatized chysocolla with a crust of
tiny sparkling quartz crystals in small cavities.

These, colored swirls of chrysocolla and sparkles of druzy quartz, if
undergoes the talent of skilled craftsman, can be produced into a
lovely and valuable piece of jewelry. Chrysocolla can sometime also
have a turquoise color which makes it the substitute for many precious
stones.

Chrysocolla is very light. It is found in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico
and Pennsylvania, USA; Israel; Zaire and England. It has a variable
hardness from 2 to 4.